Just the Ticket for Hungry Kids

When the Rev. Phil Batten’s lesson on Heaventrain ends, each child receives a ticket for a snack. With tickets clutched in their hands, they barrel down the bus steps and head for Don Eckenrode, who starts to hand out packages of Cheetos and bear-claw danishes.

Eckenrode, 46, of Doylestown, said he hates the idea of kids going hungry, and he knows some of the Heaventrain kids won’t get anything to eat that day except the snacks.

“I don’t think the Lord’s happy (when the kids are hungry), and I know I won’t be happy until they’re all eating,” said Eckenrode, who also manages Lighthouse Inc.’s larger food distribution program that serves 10 inner-city neighborhoods.

Lighthouse Inc., the nondenominational, nonprofit organization that grew out of a Church of the Nazarene mission outreach program, serves the Greater Cleveland area through food and clothing distribution, as well as educational programs like Heaventrain.

Since 1983, the group provided about 4.5 million pounds of food, assisting an average of 1,100 people every week and serving holiday dinners to about 5,000 seniors. They work with the Progressive Action Council of the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority at 30 locations for the food programs.

“He really goes after the stuff,” Batten said. “He can’t sit and wait. Once people know the needs, they respond. Believers and unbelievers both give, those who are Christian and others that don’t claim any faith.”

A heart-wrenching question from Alexander, an 8-year-old boy who attended Heaventrain in 1982, inspired the snack and food program. If there was a God, the little boy asked the preacher, why did he allow the children to go hungry? Batten, at a loss for words, shared Alexander’s question with his church at the time in Willoughby.

Pat Gallagher, a member of the congregation, donated $75 in McDonald’s gift certificates to the program. Batten reserved $10 for Alexander’s family and took the child aside after the Heaventrain service the following Saturday.

Batten has repeated this story many times, and although the words are worn, its message is still new, still relevant.

“Alexander, there is a God, and it isn’t his will that you go hungry,” he told the little boy, giving him the gift certificates. “If your mom asks where you got these, tell her that 2,000 years ago a man, nailed spread-eagle to a cross, bought these for you. Jesus bought these for you.”

The experience changed him and changed the way he preached, the minister said. “You don’t feed someone spiritually if they’re hungry physically.”

John Marks, 43, who grew up in the area and now delivers food packages with Clevelanders Alfred Stevens and David Fluker, said the food program helps the elderly as well as the youngsters. He helps out with the Heaventrain snacks when needed.

“This is an inspiration,” Marks said, nodding at Batten and the long, brightly painted blue bus. “He gets them interested in church. He does good here.”